The high school tennis season is just beginning, but the most stressful part of the season is over. Challenge matches often create anxiety for coaches and players. Players may have an idea where they expect to fit in on the team, but they still must win the appropriate matches to get there. One bad day, and you could be further down in the lineup than you wanted, or pushed out of a starting position altogether. This applies even more so to the stronger teams. According to West Windsor-Plainsboro South coach Jim Giovacchini, that’s also the time when a coach can see how a player deals with pressure, one of the most important considerations in tennis. “There’s a ton of stress,” he says about challenge matches. WW-P South has completed its challenge system and Giovacchini is the first to admit that not everyone is happy. But positions have been determined, and the team is ready to compete. As the premier high school team in the area, it is interesting to see how this year would pan out after losing players to graduation in two singles spots. Not to worry. A freshman talent, Michael Song, is playing first singles. However, not everything is set in stone. Daniel Ng, last year’s third singles star who mostly played second singles because of team injuries, was unable to play his final challenge match this past week because of a foot injury. This might set him back just a few days until he’s ready to challenge for the top spot, so adjustments had to be made until his return. And with three strong teams starting off the South schedule (Hightstown, Robbinsville, and WW-P North), an upset is possible. Daniel Vaysburd, who played doubles last year, will play third singles. Doubles teams are Abhinay Tumati and Thomas Weng at first, and Peter Ku and freshman Nick Chen at second. Again, things can change. Other strong players are waiting in the wings. “Most of the kids play year-round,” Giovacchini said. “Some take a group lesson once a week.” For many teams, this would be great, but on this state title contender, it may not be enough. South won the Mercer County Tournament six of the last seven years and is a strong front-runner to repeat at the April 25 tournament. What they really would like is a state title. Last year, the Pirates suffered some late-season injury setbacks and were eliminated, 3-2, by Montgomery in the sectional final. “We have more depth than last year,” Giovacchini said. “And this will be the youngest team I’ve ever put out there. Three of the top eight are freshmen.” • Other Colonial Valley Conference teams looking strong are West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Hopewell Valley, Hightstown, and Princeton. Peddie and Lawrenceville will lead the way among prep teams. • The leading players county-wide look to be Chris Seitz, Hun; Vinit Palayekar, Hightstown; Tim Rosensteel, Peddie; Kenny Zheng, Hopewell; Ramy Bekhiet, Robbinsville; and Michael Song, WW-P South.

Coaching notes:

• Jason Dratman, the director of tennis at Hopewell Valley Golf Club, takes the reins at Pennington School, replacing Dave Honhart. • Will Ashe, last year’s assistant coach at Princeton Day School, moves into the head coaching position and replaces Rome Campbell. • Chris Chirico replaces Guy Dippolito at Robbinsville. Chirico has played nationally and internationally, was ranked No. 1 nationally in the juniors, played for Texas A&M, and played Junior Davis Cup. • John Arnold is in his 33rd and final year of coaching at Montgomery. He has an impressive 504-191-1 record.